. . . thinks aloud

I was browsing through a video archive of a computer science lecture held at the university of Berkeley when I came across an eye-opening document from the history of computing. During one lecture the students were shown a video documentation in which a researcher from Xerox PARC illustrated different software developed from 1960 until the 70s. It was stunning! Everybody knows that techniques like the computer mouse or the light-pen have been invented during that early stage of computer history. But I've never actually realized how advanced the software already used to be back then.

I witnessed some kind of CAD software ( Ivan Sutherland, "Sketchpad", 1962) that even used character recognition in a very sophisticated way that allowed fast and simple visual entry and manipulation of data. In Xerox PARK a 12 year old girl wrote an image painting software. Yes, you heard it correctly. She actually created the software by herself by the help of the programming language "Smalltalk" that was created in the lab. Another example from 1968 showed Douglas Engelbart demonstrating application that used a mouse interface, hypertext, collaborative network connections and even a video conference system.

The common factor of all examples was that the software used graphical interfaces allowing the user an surprisingly easy way of interaction. If it hasn't been the poor quality of the movies mostly filmed on 8mm cameras you probably wouldn't believe that these applications were already available 30 to 40 years ago.

My first amazement was slowly overshadowed by more and more disillusioning thoughts. These old video clips displayed software that disturbingly resembled currently available application and operating systems.

Of course it was obvious that these developments have been done in academic environments or research institutions were large cash resources were available. The breathtaking costs (and sometimes also dimensions) of the hardware on which the software was running has surely been a reason why this advanced technology often never left these areas.

But how can it be explained that the applications available today so much resemble the inventions of 1962? Where can you find software that is so easy to use like some of these ancient programs? Why isn't it today if you can't find a software that exactly does what you want it to do you simply create it on your own?

Like al lot of my other thoughts on my homepage I don't have a clever answer to all these questions. But I can think about some things that lead into the right direction.

In the world of computers established today the one who decides what computer sit on your desktop defines and controls what is state-of-the-art in computer technology and interface design. Right after I wrote the last sentence I start doubting it. Can I make it myself that simple and use that overused cliché of the almighty big "M"?

Established systems are not a bad thing per se. Even if the interface is not the most user-friendliest it is a great help if the user is familiar to it and it works like he or she is used to from other applications. But again isn't it like we are trapped in a situation where new and revolutionary developments in usable computer technology will never get a chance to leave creative labs and university?

We are living in a a world of computing with established technology, well known look & feel and familiar interface design. Back in the "old days" people started from scratch. There used to be no experience you can build on to. But this also meant that there used to be no borders that limited people from thinking the unthinkable. Everything was possible, everything can be done - at least in theory.

And as I decide to stop thinking about this matter and watch some more of the available lectures, a quotation mentioned in the video comes back to my mind: "I don't know who discovered water but it wasn't a fish!".

Past thoughts:

• A quite neighbourhood
• The speed of thoughts
• Digital distance
• Close that window!
• The joy of analogism

OK, now make yourself comfortable and find out what I think the world must know about myself. I...

. . .can be contacted

• EMail: rosenfeld@work.de
• Klaus Rosenfeld
  n@work Internet Informationssysteme GmbH
  Spalding Str. 160D
  20097 Hamburg
  Germany
• Tel.: +49 40 / 23 88 09 0
• Fax: +49 40 / 23 88 09 29

. . . am busy @ work with

The HypArt-Project

An Internet/Web-project that let people from all around the world create images together. Online since 1994. A "must-see" on this page (if you ask me :)

Aufbau und Gestaltung eines Informationssystems[...]

A paper by Andreas Elvers and myself about the construction and organization of an information-system for the computer science department based on the World Wide Web. (available in German)

. . . have the current motto

• webcast.berkeley - the live and on-demand video archive of the University of Berkeley.

• Julia, who's homepage is a must-see.

• Ancient computer text adventures - let the legend live on! Ever played an Infocom text-adventure? Here is a tribute homepage to these great games. Or get a taste of the game-play with this amazing Java version of the Z-machine.